WITA Webinars

About WITA Webinars

WITA educates policy makers and the public about the most pressing international trade and economic policy issues of the day.

Publisher

WITA DC

Category

news

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

22 Jan 2026

Latest episode

25 Jun 2026

Latest episodes

16 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   25 Jun 2026

   Trade at the Border: Customs, Enforcement, and Emerging Challenges

   As governments increasingly rely on tariffs, customs measures, and regulatory tools for economic and national security goals, viewers joined our WITA webinar for a 10,000-foot view of the shifting customs landscape. This includes the Administration’s recent customs Executive Order and the broader shift from compliance toward enforcement and implementation. Our speakers unpacked evolving agency roles and new border requirements, examining these issues within a broader global context. The discussion explored what these shifts mean for companies navigating increasingly complex supply chains, rising enforcement priorities, and emerging updates shaping near-term compliance and border requirements. Featured Speakers: Joshua Aikens, Head of Government Affairs, Zonos Blake Harden, Managing Director, Washington Council Ernst & Young; former Trade Counsel on the House Ways & Means Committee; and former Senior Attorney in the Office of the Chief Counsel at US Customs and Border Protection Sydney Mintzer, Partner, Customs, International Trade, Supply Chain & Distribution, Mayer Brown LLP Moderator: Felicia Pullam, Senior Director, Geo-Commerce, APCO Worldwide; former Executive Director, Office of Trade Relations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection

2. 

   11 Jun 2026

   How AI and Innovation Drive U.S. Exports

   At this WITA Zoom webinar, our speakers discussed how AI‑enabled digital trade platforms are expanding global market access for U.S. businesses, how AI is lowering barriers to exporting and transforming supply chains—and why digital trade, technology investment, and smart trade policy are critical to U.S. exports and job creation.Featured Remarks:Bill Guidera, Deputy Under Secretary for Innovation and Engagement, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of CommercePanel Discussion:Zach Fishbain, Chief Executive Officer, Spread The Love LLCScott Jacobs, Head of Global Public Policy, CoupangKristin Najdi, Senior Director of Trade Policy, Information Technology Industry CouncilBrian Scarpelli, Senior Global Policy Counsel, Association for Competitive Technology (ACT)Moderator: Scott Friedman, Vice President, Government Affairs, Altana

3. 

   28 May 2026

   Agriculture Under USMCA: North American Perspectives

   On Thursday, May 28, WITA convened the agriculture community from the U.S., Canada, and Mexico to discuss how USMCA is working in practice, key challenges, and priorities as the review process continues. Featured Speakers: John Bode, President & CEO, Corn Refiners Association Joseph Glauber, Research Fellow Emeritus, International Food Policy Research Institute Sergio Gómez Lora, CEO, Mexico’s Business Coordinating Council Michael Harvey, Executive Director, Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance Moderator: Darci Vetter, Vice President of Public Affairs, Driscoll’s; former Chief Agricultural Negotiator, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative

4. 

   16 Apr 2026

   WITA's USMCA Review Series: Driving North American Trade

   At this Zoom event, speakers discussed the importance of the U.S. – Mexico -Canada Agreement to the U.S. automotive sector.  How has the Agreement succeeded in meeting its goals of driving greater investment in manufacturing and jobs in the U.S.? What has it meant for employment across the sector, and in bringing automotive supply chains back to the region.  Speakers will also discuss where improvements could be made as part of the review, including how to modernize the Agreement for the U.S. to better compete with China. Featured Speakers: Matt Blunt, President, American Automotive Policy Council Cody Lusk, President and CEO, American International Automobile Dealers Association Paul McCarthy, President & CEO, MEMA – the Vehicle Suppliers Association Jennifer Safavian, President & CEO, Autos Drive America Moderator: Arun Venkataraman, Partner, Covington; former Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Global Markets and Director General of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service

5. 

   2 Apr 2026

   Thank You for Your Attention to this Matter: The Trade Reporters – One Year Since “Liberation Day”

   On April 2nd, 2025 President Trump Announced his “Liberation Day” Tariffs and to paraphrase Hamilton (the musical, not the statesman) the world of trade turned upside-down. This webinar, WITA welcomed back the Trade Reporters to discuss this monumental year in trade. Featured Speakers: Shawn Donnan, Senior Writer, Bloomberg David Lynch, Global Economics Correspondent, The Washington Post Ana Swanson, Trade and International Economics Correspondent, New York Times Koen Verhelst, Trade Reporter, POLITICO Europe Moderator: Michael Smart, Managing Director, Rock Creek Global Advisors; former Director for International Trade and Investment, National Security Council, The White House

6. 

   27 Mar 2026

   Live from Yaoundé, Cameroon! WTO MC14 Pop-Up Briefing

   Thank you for joining WITA for a unique pop-up industry briefing live streamed from the World Trade Organization’s 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Featured Speakers Live in Yaoundé: Alice Slayton Clark, Senior VP of Trade, Investment and Digital Policy, United States Council for International Business Isabelle Icso, Executive Director, International Policy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Special Online Guests: Angela Ellard, Senior Advisor (non-resident), Center for Strategic and International Studies; former Deputy Director General, World Trade Organization Maria Pagan, former Deputy United States Trade Representative, and United States Ambassador to the WTO

7. 

   24 Mar 2026

   The European Approach to Dealing with Trade Uncertainty: WITA International & WTCA

   Thank you for joining WITA International for this virtual panel during the World Trade Centers Association (WTCA) European Conference on Tuesday, March 24 at 9:30 AM ET / 2:30 PM CET which discussed “The European Approach to Dealing with Trade Uncertainty.” Experts discussed developments in European trade policy and regulatory trends that shape the global business environment. Featured Speakers: Welcome by Crystal Eden, Executive Director-Member Services, World Trade Centers Association Introduction by Kenneth I. Levinson, Chief Executive Officer, WITA – The International Trade Association Anna Jerzewska, Founder, Trade & Borders Kate Kalutkiewicz, Senior Managing Director, McLarty Associates Eveline Kolk, Managing Director, World Trade Centers The Hague and Rotterdam Atli Stannard, Special Counsel, Covington & Burling LLP Brussels Moderator: Penny Naas, Senior Vice President, Innovation and Competitiveness, German Marshall Fund of the United States

8. 

   18 Mar 2026

   WTO Matters: MC-14 and What Comes Next

   As WTO Members prepare for the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) in Cameroon this March, WITA International hosted a global webinar series: WTO Matters. The series explored the core functions of the WTO, reforms needed to keep the institution effective and relevant, and the key policy issues shaping debates.The WTO’s 14th Ministerial Conference (MC 14) takes place in Cameroon from March 26 to 29. To conclude WITA’s WTO Matters Series, on March 17th we discuss key issues on the MC 14 agenda, including the moratorium on duties for electronic transmissions and efforts to more fully integrate small economies into the multilateral trading system. Panelists will also discussed a post-MC 14 work-plan on WTO reform, and how the organization stays relevant in a time of volatility and uncertainty.Featuring:Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General, World Trade OrganizationPanel Discussion:Jake Colvin, President, National Foreign Trade Council; Executive Director, Global Innovation Forum Cecilia Malmström, Nonresident Senior Fellow, Peterson Institute for International Economics; former European Commissioner for TradePenny Naas, Senior Vice President, Innovation and Competitiveness, German Marshall Fund of the United StatesAmbassador Tan Hung Seng, Singapore Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the WTO and WIPO, Permanent Mission of SingaporeModerator: Angela Ellard, Senior Advisor (non-resident), Center for Strategic and International Studies; former Deputy Director General, World Trade Organization

9. 

   5 Mar 2026

   WTO Matters: Trading with Intelligence – Unlocking the Benefits of Digital Trade, AI and Emerging Technologies

   As WTO Members prepare for the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) in Cameroon this March, WITA International is hosting a new global webinar series: WTO Matters. The series explores the core functions of the WTO, reforms needed to keep the institution effective and relevant, and the key policy issues shaping debates. The March 5th discussion initiated conversation of how the WTO can help promote trade and development through the use of AI and digital technologies; the WTO’s Work Programme on E-Commerce; and the moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions (the “e-commerce Moratorium”). Featured Speakers: Ambassador James Baxter, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Australia to the WTO; Co-Convenor of the WTO’s Joint Statement Initiative on Electronic Commerce Christine Bliss, President, Coalition of Services Industries (CSI); former Assistant USTR for Services, Investment, Telecommunication, and E-Commerce Ambassador Richard Brown, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Jamaica to the WTO, and Facilitator of the WTO’s Work Programme on Electronic Commerce Johanna Hill, Deputy Director General, World Trade Organization Moderator: Angela Ellard, Senior Advisor (non-resident), Center for Strategic and International Studies; former Deputy Director General, World Trade Organization

10. 

    5 Mar 2026

    Fireside Chat with Roberto Azevêdo and Angela Ellard

    Featured Speakers:Roberto Azevêdo, President, 9G Consulting; former Director-General, World Trade OrganizationModerator: Angela Ellard, Senior Advisor (non-resident), Center for Strategic and International Studies; former Deputy Director-General, World Trade Organization

11. 

    18 Feb 2026

    WTO Matters: Whither MFN – Its Relevance in a Rapidly Changing World

    As WTO Members prepare for the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) in Cameroon this March, WITA International is hosting a new global webinar series: WTO Matters. The series explores the core functions of the WTO, reforms needed to keep the institution effective and relevant, and the key policy issues shaping debates. At this session, we will discuss the relevance of the WTO’s core principle of Most Favored Nation (MFN).  While MFN remains essential for most of world trade, its critics, including the U.S., question its relevance. Panelists will discuss the impact on MFN of the Trump tariffs; the negotiation of trade deals that do not apply broadly; the U.S. reform proposal rejecting a one-size-fits-all approach; and the EU reform proposal noting the need for dynamic adjustment of rights and commitments given lack of reciprocal liberalization. Featured Speakers: David Henig, UK Director, European Centre for International Political Economy (ECIPE) Maria Pagan, former Deputy United States Trade Representative and US Ambassador to the WTO; and Former Deputy General Counsel, Office U.S. Trade Representative, among other position’s she has held. Dawn Shackleford, President at Looking Glass Trade, LLC; former Executive Director for Trade Agreements Policy & Negotiations, Department of Commerce; former Assistant USTR for WTO & Multilateral Affairs Alan Wolff, Senior Fellow at Peterson Institute for International Economics ; former Deputy Director-General at the World Trade Organization Moderator: Angela Ellard, Senior Advisor (non-resident), Center for Strategic and International Studies; former Deputy Director General, World Trade Organization

12. 

    11 Feb 2026

    WTO Matters: WTO Reform – Part 2

    As WTO Members prepare for the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) in Cameroon this March, WITA International has launched a new global webinar series: WTO Matters. The series explores the core functions of the WTO, reforms needed to keep the institution effective and relevant, and the key policy issues shaping debates. The February 13 webinar continues our conversation on reform and features perspectives from WTO ambassadors representing a cross-section of the membership, offering insights into priorities heading into MC14 and the path forward for the organization.  Topics we plan to discuss at this event are the reform proposal submitted by the EU (https://www.eeas.europa.eu/delegations/world-trade-organization-wto/eu-submission-wto-reform_en) in January, 2026.  This event follows-on the event (https://www.wita.org/event-videos/wto-reform-part-1/) WITA hosted on February 4, 2026, with additional WTO nations. Featured Speakers: Ambassador Sung-yo Choi, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea to the World Trade Organization Ambassador Salomon Eheth, Permanent Mission of the Republic of Cameroon to the World Trade Organization Ambassador João Machado, Permanent Representative of the European Union to the World Trade Organization Ambassador Guilherme de Aguiar Patriota, Permanent Representative of Brazil to the World Trade Organization; Deputy Permanent Representative of Brazil to the United Nations Ambassador Mzukisi Qobo, Permanent Representative of South Africa to the World Trade Organization Moderator: Angela Ellard, Senior Advisor (non-resident), Center for Strategic and International Studies; former Deputy Director General, World Trade Organization

13. 

    4 Feb 2026

    WTO Matters: WTO Reform – Part 1

    As WTO Members prepare for the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) in Cameroon this March, WITA International launched a new global webinar series: WTO Matters. The series explores the core functions of the WTO, reforms needed to keep the institution effective and relevant, and the key policy issues shaping debates. As part of this series, WITA will host two events with Ambassadors from around the world to offer their perspectives on reform of the 30-year-old institution.   The February 4 event features Deputy USTR Joe Barloon, who talked about the United States reform proposal (https://www.wita.org/atp-research/on-wto-reform/) contained in their December 2025 communication to the WTO General Council.  Ambassador Barloon was joined by the Ambassadors of Norway, Barbados, and New Zealand in an event moderated by Angela Ellard, the former Deputy Director General of the WTO.  The second reform event on February 13 (https://www.wita.org/events/wto-reform-part-2/), will feature additional perspectives from global WTO Ambassadors. Featured Speakers: Ambassador Joseph Barloon, Deputy United States Trade Representative and Chief of Mission for the Permanent Mission of the United States to the World Trade Organization Ambassador Clare Kelly, Ambassador and Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of New Zealand to the World Trade Organization Ambassador Petter Ølberg, Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Norway to the World Trade Organization Ambassador Matthew Wilson, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Barbados to the United Nations, World Trade Organization and other International Organizations in Geneva Moderator: Angela Ellard, Senior Advisor (non-resident), Center for Strategic and International Studies; former Deputy Director General, World Trade Organization

14. 

    29 Jan 2026

    WTO Matters: Core Functions of the WTO

    As WTO Members prepare for the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) in Cameroon this March, WITA International is launching a new global webinar series: WTO Matters. The series will explore the core functions of the WTO, reforms needed to keep the institution effective and relevant, and the key policy issues shaping debates.In this first event in WITA’s WTO Matters Series, discussed fundamental principles and functions of the WTO, as well as topics currently under discussion for MC14, dispute settlement, trade policy monitoring, and “reform by doing.”Featured Speakers:Padideh Ala’i, Professor of Law at American University Washington College of LawEugenia Lizano, Chief of Section-Trade Policies Review, Americas, World Trade OrganizationRoy Santana, Secretary of the Council for Trade in Goods, World Trade OrganizationSantiago Wills, Director – General Council and Trade Negotiations Committee Division, World Trade OrganizationModerator: Angela Ellard, Senior Advisor (non-resident), Center for Strategic and International Studies; former Deputy Director General, World Trade Organization

15. 

    22 Jan 2026

    USMCA Under Review: Early Takeaways, Stakeholder Engagement, and the Year Ahead

    This webinar kicked off our USMCA Review Series programming for 2026, building off the launch of the series in 2025. We looked at what we’ve learned so far from the USTR hearings and stakeholder engagement, how key sectors are positioning themselves ahead of the review, and what the review process could mean for companies, consumers, workers, and the North American economy. Featured Speakers: Everett Eissenstat, Partner, Public Policy Practice Group, Squire Patton Boggs; former Deputy Assistant to the President for International Economic Affairs and Deputy Director, National Economic Council; former Assistant USTR for the Americas Nancy Martinez, Director, Public Policy, Trade and Biotechnology, National Corn Growers Association Tiffany Melvin, President, North American Strategy for Competitiveness (NASCO) Mayur Patel, Partner, Hogan Lovells; former Chief International Trade Counsel, U.S. Senate Committee on Finance Salvatore (Sal) Vetrini, Senior Counsel, FedEx Corporation Moderator: Rory Heslington,  Vice President of Government Affairs, Autos Drive America

16. 

    22 Jan 2026

    Twenty Trends for 2026

    This event was recorded on January 12, 2026 at 10am. Fusion & Flying Cars. Deaths From Despair. Blended Reality. AI Cyber War. Super Human. WITA is pleased to have hosted noted futurist Robert Moran of Brunswick Group to discuss 20 notable global trends and risks for 2026 Featured Speakers: Robert Moran, Partner, Brunswick Group Moderator: Rachel Rizzo, Senior Fellow, Strategic Studies Programme, Observer Research Foundation

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